There are many other examples of popular beliefs being dramatically changed through scientific discovery. B.Y.O Deer Base. These products can be mixed with water or placed in a tree stump. Just be sure to buy and use them in conjunction with an EPA-registered water filter. Arguably, the test might only be representative for the particular deer mineral I was using, and a different mineral with different salt levels or other attractants might have shown a different result. Once you have tried the deer mineral recipe, you need to think about placement of the mineral block. Growing antlers are composed mostly of proteins (80 percent by weight); whereas hardened antlers contain roughly equal amounts of proteins and minerals. In formulating a plan of attack regarding mineral nutrition, I went to the same folks wed consulted about planting forages: dairymen. Ingredients 2 cups = Oats 2 cups = Cornmeal 1 cup = Brown sugar 1 cup = Molasses 1/2 cup = Vegetable oil Directions In a large bowl, pour in molasses, brown sugar, and vegetable oil. The white will cause the deer to notice it and start to use it. Dig a whole 2-3" deep by about 3 feet across. Mar 18, 2010. Just be sure to dig up some of the existing dirt and mix the trace mineral salt and dicalcium phosphate into the soil. Haynes Shelton discusses what to look for when choosing the magnification range when it comes to the scope on your deer rifle. For example, for many years, it was commonly accepted that adult bucks did all or most of the breeding. Type of mineral formulation affected total deer use of baited sites, with a high salt formulation receiving over four times the number of daily visits from deer as other formulations. Join us as we mix up the mineral and take it out and put. B.Y.O Deer Base also contains, magnesium, sulfur, potassium as well as all the essential trace minerals and vitamins needed by deer. Deer need both protein and minerals to grow their antlers. Despite the number of products now on the market and the amount of information published, many user questions continue. This being said, there are many variables at play and these results certainly do not provide a definite answer. Sodium helps to regulate blood pressure and fluid balance in the body. Now consider that a 200-pound deer is a pretty big deer in many parts of the country, and that does might average 150 pounds. Bogart, GA 30622 To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. Even taking all of this into consideration, I believe that, at the very least, the results strongly suggest that the intake of free choice minerals is substantially lower than 1 to 2 ounces per head per day. In todays video we are going to show you guys how to make your own deer mineral and save some money. Farm A had an average number of 11 adult deer using the site on a daily basis. Be sure its in close proximity to a good tree for a trail camera, too. As I detailed in the Spring issue, its safe to say that soils determine more about whitetail growth and productivity than any other factor. Many hunters will find an old rotted stump near trails and use that for their man-made lick. Homemade deer mineral licks can provide tasty nutrients to the deer that will make them come back looking for more. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. The best time to put out these mineral blocks is in February/March/April. What is the Most Important Factor in Whitetail Nutrition? Over the years, with the use of thousands of trail camera photos and a lot of trial and error, I have figured out a few factors that influence mineral consumption both positively and negatively. Experiment and see what works best for you. Can deer freeze to death when severe cold weather, such as dangerously low temperatures, deep snow and crushing winds, set in? Nutrient levels mean virtually nothing if you do not at least have an approximate idea of how much of a product the deer are consuming. Comes in 50lb Bags, you need one bag. Gordon Whittington heads north to his personal Missouri farm for some crossbow action. Place the lick in a location that has a lot of natural cover. Place the mixture in a shallow container, such as a baking pan or pie plate, and place it in an area frequented by deer. Whether the addition of supplemental minerals is truly benefitting the deer, or if the deer are simply using the site because of the salt, isn't really a primary concern of mine. Getting your food plots back on track. Although many people assume that any mineral will grow trophy bucks, most deer are not that fortunate. Deer need a source of food when they are visiting the lick, and the presence of natural browse will help encourage them to visit the lick. Continue with Recommended Cookies, Home Recipes The #1 Best Deer Mineral Recipe. Simply use a bucket with nearby pond or creek water to do this. N1 Outdoors - How To Make Your Own Deer Mineral Recipe (and what ingredients you'll need): Trace Minerals 2 parts trace minerals. Place the lick in an area that has good soil drainage. This can be beneficial for several reasons. When spring rolls around, hunters everywhere gear up to begin establishing or recharging the mineral sites on their hunting properties. So, if we take a 200-pound buck and say that hes eating 4 percent of his body weight each day, then this equates to 8 pounds of total daily food consumption. Monitor the lick and the deer activity around it regularly. Once youve tagged that big whitetail deer, take a look at some of our most popular venison recipes like our Old School Deer Jerky Recipe or the Delicious Deer Backstrap Crockpot Recipe, What Is A Piebald Deer? Place the lick in an area that has plenty of natural browse available. During the summer, finding locations that deer frequent often can be tough. The best mineral sites are located near water sources. But why do they use these licks and why is their use restricted primarily to the spring and summer? I then placed cameras at each one of the sites to monitor usage. A homemade deer mineral lick should include minerals that are essential for deer health, such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, copper, zinc, and selenium. If youre looking for a natural way to increase your deers antler growth, homemade deer minerals may be the answer. Gordon Whittington talks with 13-year-old Troy Metzger about the 2016 hunt that landed the young man a monster non-typical buck on this edition of Big Buck Profile. Once you have your supplies its time to start making mineral sites. Build your own deer base is designed to make your own deer mineral using individual ingredients or you can add it to either your current mineral to make it more fortified. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. However, if you are using mineral supplements or considering using them to improve the nutritional plan of the deer herd on your property, I think having at least an idea of what expected intake is is important. Have you ever wondered why deer hammer mineral licks in the warm-weather months more than any other time of year? Staying undetected by deer while hunting in a ground blind takes a few easy steps. Whether you need to know how to test the soil in your food plot, tighten the groups from your crossbow, or scope out the latest on that big buck you saw online, you've landed around the right campfire. Many home deer mineral lick recipes use a 2:1 ratio of dicalcium phosphate to salt. One is to start by hanging your cameras on the fringes and then work your way toward bedding areas if deer movement warrants it. The minerals are not as attractive to deer, but they are a necessity for their body. Most folks would simply look at the tag and see that one product is 28 percent and the other 22 percent and just assume that the deer is getting more protein from the 28 percent protein product. Top 5 Best Homemade Deer Attractants Reviewed 1. These categories indicate the amount used by the animal. For instance, did the cameras trigger each time a deer was using the site? The National Deer Association is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Email: info@deerassociation.com. Its best to get started as soon as spring green-up starts taking place, but keeping minerals out year-round is better. When spring rolls around, hunters everywhere gear up to begin establishing or recharging the mineral sites on their hunting properties. Believe it or not, in those early days little of the whitetail information we now commonly take for granted was known. Even though we used protein in this example, the same is true for nutrients in a mineral supplement. The product you choose needs to have calcium and phosphorus, in as large of quantity as possible. Most professionals relied on information generated primarily for small ruminants, including sheep and goats. Trace mineral salt contains mostly salt, which is what the deer are actually looking for, and various other trace amounts of minerals such as zinc, manganese, iron all of which are found in hardened deer antler. In fact, theres significant scientific evidence to suggest Cu deficiencies are linked to spontaneous occurrences of brain diseases such as mad cow and CWD. It also has a lower taste, so deer will return for more. This study differed from the Penn State study in that both herds were fed a nutritionally complete diet. Using the right ingredients and amounts, hunters can create a mineral recipe that will help to keep deer healthy and help to promote a healthy hunting season. While all these minerals are important, we quickly learned that Ca and P in particular had a lot to do with the size of deer and their antlers. Researchers at Mississippi State University found a strong correlation between soil mineral content (primarily phosphorus) and body size, although no correlation with adult antler size was found. Weve put together one of the best deer mineral recipe articles for you to try at home. Calcium and phosphorus are important for bone growth, while magnesium helps to regulate muscle and nerve function. The placement of a homemade deer mineral lick on your property is an important factor in encouraging deer to visit and use the lick. WHITETAIL DEER HOMEMADE MINERAL MIX RECIPE Ingredients: Makes 200 lbs. An easy and beneficial mineral recipe for whitetail deer and an aid in antler. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Many of these minerals only make up a fraction of a percent of the antler. Once posts are published, youll see them here. Dicalcium Phosphate Mix the ingredients above with 1 part dicalcium phosphate. But theyre bitter on their own, so you need to add more salt to the mix. For example, in much of South Texas (which is broadly deficient in P), low rainfall makes trying to grow traditional food plots a fools errand. Instead, we apply 50 pounds per acre of triple-superphosphate (0-45-0) fertilizer to native brush. Clearly minerals are important in antler development. Wildgame Innovations, for example, has all manner of attractants that have a powerful aroma that should help deer find your mineral site more quickly and may add a flavor component that the deer love. Because of this, I normally recommend at least one site per 40 acres to minimize site competition, with more sites needed in areas with higher deer density. for about $23.00 1 part Di-calcium phosphate, this is a dairy feed additive bought at feed stores. 12/12 Trace Mineral - #100 - $35.20. Now, consider two different protein supplements, one with a level of 28 percent protein and one at 22 percent protein. When creating sites, I try to find heavily used trails or trail crossings somewhere in cover (brush or timber) and create the site just off that trail or trail crossing. These make up about 60 percent of the total weight of the antler. In addition to calcium (19 percent) and phosphorus (10 percent), the next most common elements were magnesium (1 percent) and sodium (0.5 percent). Dig a whole 2-3" deep by about 3 feet across. You can purchase the ingredients in many stores and mix them together yourself. Deer. Here's a new mineral lick being established with trace mineral salt and dicalcium phosphate. The rest must come directly from their diet while their antlers are actively growing. However, these body sources of calcium and phosphorus provide only a portion needed for optimum antler growth. They can feed darned near anywhere as browse is abundant and crops are plentiful. Mike Clerkin heads to the legendary Buffalo County, Wisconsin, in search of early season whitetail action. So, if you have already addressed the larger concerns of habitat and herd management, mineral supplements can be another part of your overall management plan. According to research, yes. Yes, whitetails will eat dirt, but the vast majority of minerals they consume enter the system through the plants they eat. 2 parts Trace mineral salt, the red and loose kind without the medications. Maybe I'm overly paranoid but I don't like adding persimmon-scented products in an area where persimmons don't grow. Deer prefer mineral sites that are in cover as opposed to out in the open. Mineral licks also provide a great place to survey deer with game cameras. This mineral will be for sale in the next 2 weeks!! Typically, this attractant comes in the form of straight salt. So here, during a time of year when mineral interest and use are high, Id like to recap which minerals deer need and how to address those needs. Studies have shown that calcium and phosphorus are by far the two most common minerals in deer antlers, comprising 3035 percent of the mature antler by weight. Thats all there is to it. The first step is have the soils analyzed for the critical macro- and micro-nutrients. Homemade Mineral Lick Go to your local feed store and buy (1) 50lb bag of granulized dicalcium phosphate, (2) 50lb bags of trace mineral salt, and (1) 50lb bag of rock salt. What Minerals Should Be Included in a Homemade Deer Mineral Lick? While there are a number of commercial products available to create mineral licks, a more affordable and perhaps better option is to drive down to your local feed and seed or farmers co-op and buy a 50-pound bag of dicalcium phosphate and one or two 50-pound bag of trace-mineral salt. The third site on Farm C was discarded due to a camera failure. This sheds light on why quality forage high in protein is needed during the spring and summer for deer to reach their antler potential. If a buck consumes 8 pounds of total food per day, then in order to hit an 18 percent protein level in his diet, he would need to consume 1.44 pounds of protein. Salt regulates intake. Heavy deer rub activity along this interior path Mixing Salts Mix the trace minerals above with 1 part mixing salts Dried Molasses Mix the above ingredients with 1 part dried molasses. For example, research has shown that a buck needs about an 18 percent protein diet during the antler-growing cycle to maximize antler growth. There is little question that increased mineral nutrition can improve your deer herd, and now that you know what to expect for intake, you can use this information to make sure your mineral product is performing as it should. 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